Vol. 449 No. 4
50 Mr. Sargent asked the Minister for Transport, Energy and Communications his views on the proposals to create an initial 500 Irish jobs by the year 2000 AD if a target of 3 per cent of Ireland's electricity being generated by wind energy was implemented as formulated by the Irish Wind Energy Association (details supplied) in Dublin; and if he will commission a study by the ESRI with a view to developing an Irish wind energy industry. [1516/95]
This Government is committed to the promotion of appropriate renewable energy technologies. The present indicative target for wind energy is 30 mw to be achieved by 1997 and, following the competition recently completed by the ESB a final decision on the precise contribution to be made by each technology will be made by me in the very near future.
Any further targets for renewables, including wind, will be set following a detailed review of strategy including an evaluation of the AER scheme itself. Any necessary studies will be undertaken as part of that process.
I would add that there are other considerations which must be taken into account in setting targets and these include the additional costs involved and the possibility of environmental impacts on visual and other grounds.
